Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 04/19/2020
Subject: Axtell 1st and 2nd Bowl
Aspect: North East, East
Elevation: 11000-11600 ft.
Avalanches: We saw a few crowns about 4-8 inches deep in 2nd bowl across all its aspects. These looked to be storm slabs. Only noticed minor wind-loading in1st and 2nd bowls, but did find snow depths varying from a few inches to around 18 inches on top of crust. Below this crust we found the facets discussed in other recent obs.
After watching other parties ski, seeing their sluff and observing propagation we decided to ski a North-facing line in 1st Bowl. Snow activity ranged from lots of sluffing to storm slabs propagating 50ish feet. In some cases storm snow ran up to about 1000 feet. Nothing stepped down below the crust.
Weather: 830am-12pm, high 20sF-low 40sF, intermittent clouds with windows of strong sun causing rapid temperature oscillations all day; occasionally short periods of snow S1-S2. Little to no breeze.
Snowpack: From 11600 ft. down to about 10300 ft. we skied moderately dense but wintery pow. Below that the storm’s effects were shallower, and the crust below the new snow thicker and more noticeable. At 10k ft. and below the snow was Spring mank.